Over The Hill

Unlike a few weeks ago, we had no difficulty parking at Rowardennan this morning, a dull grey morning probably helping to delay the greater number of walkers we encountered on our return to Rowardennan later in the day.

Similarly, apart from one other group of Americans and Canadians we were the only others to be seen on Ptarmigan Ridge the ascent of which was made in ever deteriorating weather that eventually had us stopping at around the 600 metre height and getting our full waterproofs on to fend off the heavy rain now drifting across from the west, the Arrochar Alps acting as our weather barometer and early warning of the approaching squalls.

We passed the lochan, usually favoured as our resting point before the final climb of the northwest ridge, by which time the squall we had been watching travel across from Arrochar arrived bringing with it a cold rain and blustery wind, and so it was with some relief that we scrambled the last few metres onto the summit and headed directly over to the north face for a sheltered spot out of the wind.

Just as quickly as the squall arrived it disappeared and sun and blue skies once again prevailed. An unusually quiet summit reflected the empty car park we had left at Rowardennan, however, it was not long before we encountered the first of many now ascending the regular "tourist" path as we made the descent back to what was now a fairly packed car park. Thankfully an early start had allowed us to have the mountain pretty much to ourselves, at least for part of the day.

Fine day, thanks everyone.